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Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

October 26
Looking for Leaders

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 119:33-40 | Jeremiah 49:23-50:46 | Titus 1:1-16 | Proverbs 26:13-16

Today’s Scripture Focus: Titus 1

“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” (Titus 1:5 NIV)

Good leadership is crucial to any organization. Good, spiritual leadership is essential to a healthy church. Paul’s instruction to Titus is a reminder of this. He reminds him of the kinds of qualities to look for in choosing leaders. So what qualities are important in choosing leaders in the church?

Paul tells Titus to look to the home life. Are they faithful to their spouse? If they have children, how did or are they doing in raising them? One’s management of their home life can be an…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

October 25
Itchy Ears

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 119:25-32 | Jeremiah 48:1-49:22 | 2 Timothy 4:1-22 | Proverbs 26:9-12

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 4

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [4] They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

There is an epidemic of itchy ears today. This should be no surprise, as Paul warned us that this would be the case. Those with itchy ears listen to only what they want to hear. If the preacher steps on their toes, they move on to another place that won’t be so uncomfortable. More than that, they look…

Quote From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

October 24
Don’t Forget the “So That”

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 119:17-24 | Jeremiah 44:24-47:7 | 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17 | Proverbs 26:6-8

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 2:22-3:17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

Why did God give us the Bible? Why should we be diligent students of it? The phrase “so that” points us to the reason: “So that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

God gave us his word so that we could be prepared and equipped to do ministry–to minister to one another in the body, as well as reaching out to share the good news with others. Head knowledge is good—but it is not the…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 24
Unjust Suffering

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 129:1-8 | Ezekiel 47:1 – 48:35 | 1 Peter 2:11-3:17 | Proverbs 28:12-13

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 2:11 – 3:17

“But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you may follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20-21 ESV)

Life isn’t always fair and it isn’t always easy. Suffering and persecution were an everyday reality for the readers of Peter’s letter. They are a reality for many believers, even today. While the injustices and sufferings we face may pale in comparison with those suffered by Peter’s original readers, we all know the sting of injustice and suffering. But unjust suffering is…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

November 23
The Good Scissors

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 128:1-6 | Ezekiel 45:13-46:24 | 1 Pet 1:13-2:10 | Proverbs 28:11

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 1:13-2:10

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written; “Be holy, because I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:15 NIV)

I’m sure every mom has them. My mom did: the good scissors.

One life’s most important early lessons was, “don’t use the good scissors.” One of the most awkward moments came when you were asked the question, “Did you just use my good scissors?”

The good scissors were not for common use–they were set apart for a special use. As important as craft projects were to us as children, they did not rank at the level of “good scissor use.” The good scissors were for cutting…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

October 23
Purity

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 119:9-16 | Jeremiah 42:1-44:23 | 2 Timothy 2:1-21 | Proverbs 26:3-5

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 1:1-18

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9 NIV)

It’s not easy to live in purity, especially in the impure world we live in. But God has given us his word to guide us along the path. As we live according to its principles our way is kept pure.

But it is not a casual reading of the word that will enable us to live blamelessly and in purity. This passage calls for more than that. We must first “seek the Lord with all our hearts” (10). There must be a wholehearted desire to follow the Lord–to seek Him and do what is right. Unless the longing…

October 22
Replacing Fear with Boldness

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 119:1-8 | Jeremiah 39:1- 41:18 | 2 Timothy 1:1-18 | Proverbs 26:1-2

Today’s Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 1:1-18

“Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:6 NIV)

Fear keeps many of us from accomplishing the great things God has for us. We feel intimidated by others–sometimes even pushed around and controlled. We back off from doing what we know we should do. It especially affects our attempts to share the good news with others. Paul calls it a “spirit of fear,” and it is. It is one of Satan’s best tools in keeping us from being fruitful…

Quote from Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverson

October 21
Money Matters

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 118:22-29 | Jeremiah 37:1-38:28 | 1 Timothy 6:1-21 | Proverbs 25:28

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 6

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV)

Money can be a major stumbling block or a major blessing. The scripture has much to say about how we handle it.

On the one hand, Paul tells us, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (9-10). Clearly, loving money too much gets us into…

From Open Up Your Heart by Jeff Syverosn

October 20
My Strength and My Song

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 118:5-21 | Jeremiah 35:1-36:32 | I Timothy 5:1-25 | Proverbs 25:25-27

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalms 118:5-21

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalms 118:14 NIV)

The Psalmist describes his situation: he feels overwhelmed, surrounded, pushed back and about to fall. Have you ever been there?

In his anguish he cries out to God. He calls Him “my helper” (6), “my strength and my song” (14).

He is “my helper.” Where there is no other place to turn, he is there and he promises to help. When I am aware of His presence, I have no reason to fear. “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (5) With God as my helper, I can anticipate a…

October 19
A Good Example

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalms 118:1-4 | Jeremiah 33:1-34:22 | 1 Timothy 4:1-16 | Proverbs 25:23-24

Today’s Scripture Focus: 1 Timothy 4:1-16

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12 NIV)

Paul had mentored young Timothy and sent him out on a mission to Ephesus to stand up to some false teachers. There is some indication that he was timid by nature, so this may not have been an easy job for him. Nonetheless, he was Paul’s choice for the job. He tells him not to be intimidated by others, but instead to set an example for them.

First, he was to be an example in speech—the tongue betrays the true condition of our hearts. His whole lifestyle, too, was to set…